Principles for Relationships from God's Word by Claudio Consuegra

Five relationship warnings – 1

Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 1 Timothy 4:14 (NKJV)

Relationship experts would agree that breakups rarely happen overnight. Often there are clues and warning signs when there’s trouble in paradise. If we choose to wait too long to deal with the underlying issues, they may develop into bigger issues and the eventual end of the relationship. Gina Vivinetto, of TODAY,[i] shares five warning signs that three relationship experts agree should never be ignored.

Excessively busy lives that keep couples apart. This could be a sign of a neglected relationship. When people get involved in their own career, get busy with their own life, and stop making a point to spend time with one another one-on-one, their relationship starts to go sour. They forget how to be a couple. The solution is simple: Be intentional about making time for one another. Use that time to talk to each other, do activities together, get reconnected. You may also be proactive and decline jobs and other obligations that keep you and your spouse apart for too long.

Chronic nitpicking and criticism. This may be a sign of underlying disdain. Sometimes people allow negative feelings to take over and they begin to see each other through disdainful lenses. In order to solve this before it damages your relationship, take time to recall what brought you together, what attracted you and what you appreciate about your spouse. As one of the experts says, “The question is, are you able to dig out and resurrect what you liked that outweighed what you didn’t like? When you see your partner, do you see the positives outweighing the negatives?

Not offering support when it matters. This may indicate a loss of trust. A loss of trust isn’t always the result of a dramatic betrayal. Often, it’s a matter of little things adding up. If that is the case, couples need to recognize what’s happening and learn how to talk about it. You should seek help from a therapist; unfortunately, couples often come to her too late.